Three SC college coeds were assaulted, fondled on the street, suspect charged

In three separate incidents Tuesday night, three female students at a South Carolina college were assaulted in a sexual manner as they were walking in public. The man suspected of the assaults has been arrested and charged by the Charleston Police Department.

Richard James Jarecki, 23, was arrested Wednesday and the James Island man was charged with three counts of assault and battery, 2nd degree.

The incidents occurred between 8:50 and 9:10 p.m., according to the police. Two of the College of Charleston coeds notified the police Tuesday night after the incidents occurred, the third student reported her incident Wednesday morning.

In the first incident, the female student was walking to a friend’s residence when she saw a “suspicious white male walking toward her,” according to the incident report. He then ran toward her and started grabbing her. When she fought back, the man believed to be Jarecki threw the student to the ground before fleeing in a black pickup truck.

In the second incident, two blocks away from where the first incident occurred, the second female student was walking in front of Addlestone Library when she saw the man alleged to be Jarecki running toward her, according to the incident report. When he got to the student, he grabbed her breast before running away, and again fleeing in a black pickup truck.

In the third incident, just a block from the scene of the second incident, the third female student was walking when she noticed a pickup truck slowly driving next to her before pulling over, according to the incident report. As the student walked past the pickup truck, that the engine was still running, its lights were on and nobody seated inside. The student said she then saw the man alleged to be Jarecki in front of her and walking in her direction.

The student walked past the suspect, only to have him grab her from behind and pull her clothing down to her waist, expose her top, and grab her chest, according to the incident report. The man alleged to be Jarecki shouted, “I have to touch you,” repeatedly before the student screamed and broke away, ultimately running to her residence.

None of the three students reported physical injuries.

The suspect in all three incidents matched the same description, approximately 5-foot-6 to 5-8, medium build, with dark hair and a dark color beard. That description matches Jarecki (5-9, 185 pounds), who is being held at Al Cannon Detention Center.

The Charleston Police Department continues to investigate the incidents.